Testing for Lead in Ones Spokane Water Supply

With the continuing story of lead in water pipes in Flint, Michigan, many homeowners across the country have been alerted to the possibility of lead in the water in their own homes. This is not the norm, but in light of the news coverage, we wanted to share links to sources where our Spokane customers can go to learn more about this plumbing topic.

You may know that lead can be harmful to your health. Just how harmful depends on how much lead gets into your body and stays there. Lead can come from a number of places: old paint, contaminated soil and, to a lesser but still significant degree, drinking water. Knowing how lead gets into your tap water – and what you can do to get it out – will reduce the health risks to you and your family. http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/is-there-lead-in-my-tap-water.html

If you feel you need to get the water in your home tested for lead, look for a lab certified by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. Also check with the local water department to see if there are lead service lines leading to your home.

In all situations, drink or cook only with water that comes out of the tap cold. Water that comes out of the tap warm or hot can contain much higher levels of lead. Boiling this water will NOT reduce the amount of lead in your water. . .
Bathing and showering should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level. Human skin does not absorb lead in water. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm

The EPA has a bunch of resources here that cover these topics a lot more.

Again, none of this information is meant to scare or raise any alarms for our Spokane Plumbing Repair customers. We just want to share relevant resources on this important topic.